This new portable USB4 drive may resemble a sleek, silver heatsink, but it packs a punch when it comes to performance, all at an affordable price
Other World Computing (OWC) has unveiled the Express 1M2 portable USB4 NVMe SSD, its first venture into the world of USB4 drives.
Designed with an emphasis on performance, the Express 1M2 delivers real-world speeds of up to 3151 MB/s (when used with most Macs and PCs from 2020) and supports USB4, USB 3.2, USB 2, as well as Thunderbolt 3 and 4 devices.
USB4 technology is seen as a game-changer in terms of speed and connectivity, offering compatibility with both current and future USB4-equipped Macs and PCs and allowing users to connect a wide range of devices while ensuring fast data transfer to ensure.
Reliability and high performance
The enclosure gives users the flexibility to use OWC's own high-performance Aura SSDs or add their own NVMe M.2 SSD of 2230, 2242 or 2280. It even comes with a screwdriver for mounting purposes.
The compact design, similar in size to a mobile phone, includes a solid aircraft-grade aluminum heatsink that provides rugged protection while effectively dissipating heat, ensuring consistent maximum performance without throttling.
The Express 1M2 is designed to work cross-platform with Macs and PCs, utilizing OWC's MacDrive software.
The target market for this product is deliberately broad, with OWC suggesting it will appeal to professional photographers and videographers, tech-savvy consumers and performance enthusiasts.
“The Express 1M2 is designed to keep the drive cool and performance high, continuing OWC's tradition of building products the right way rather than focusing on low-priced, disposable raw materials,” said Larry O' Connor, Founder and CEO of OWC. “Our customers' data reliability is our number one priority and the Express 1M2 is the ideal choice for those looking for long-term reliability and high performance.”
Pricing for the Express 1M2 starts at $119.99 for the external storage enclosure without SSD. Users can also choose Aura SSD models of 1TB, 2TB, 4TB or 8TB, with prices starting at $219.99. The top 8TB model costs $1,299.99.
You can check the compatibility with your PC and Mac and purchase the drive here.